Rangers at Senators
THE STORY: The Ottawa Senators taught the New York Rangers a valuable lesson on lead protection in their first meeting of the season. The Rangers received the message loud and clear - and they'll be looking to use that knowledge to gain a measure of revenge as the teams face off Wednesday night in Kanata, Ont. The Rangers have won four straight games since squandering a 4-1 third-period lead on the way to a 5-4 shootout loss to the Senators 11 days ago. The offense has been particularly impressive, with the club scoring 15 times during the winning streak. Ottawa has scuffled in the five games since its unexpected win at Madison Square Garden, and is currently riding a three-game losing streak. The Senators dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night, slipping to 0-1-1 on their three-game homestand that concludes Wednesday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG, TSN, RDS
ABOUT THE RANGERS (7-3-3): New York returns to the road for the first time since halting its grueling seven-game season-opening trek. A 4-1-1 start at home is a positive sign, as the Rangers built off an impressive 3-2-2 showing on a road trip that spanned three countries over two continents and lasted nearly three weeks. "As a team we want to get on streaks like that," backup goaltender Martin Biron said. "We want to be a team that comes back after a loss and then puts a string (of wins) together."
ABOUT THE SENATORS (7-7-1): For Ottawa to get back into the win column, the club will need more from talented winger Milan Michalek. The enigmatic 26-year-old broke out with eight goals in October but has scored just once in the past four games. It was his clutch scoring ability that salvaged a pair of wins for the Senators during their magical six-game winning streak. Michalek had the game-winning goal in one of them and tied another.
OVERTIME:
1. Past history is in New York's favor, with the road team winning the last eight consecutive head-to-head meetings. The teams have split those games four apiece.
2. Sean Avery hasn't made much of an impact since being recalled from the American Hockey League. The temperamental forward has zero points and just one shot on goal in two games.